Case packing machine



1965 M. S.WOZN1AK 3,201,912

CASE PACKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY h/s af/omeys 24 41, (fiz M 4, 1965 M. s. WOZNIAK 3,201,912

CASE PACKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ir INVEN TOR.

BY h/s affomeys Aug. 24, 1965 M. s. WOZNIAK CASE PACKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 HHHIHI llll H [I II H II INVENTORI. M/fchefl 5 WOZ/WO/f BY/7/5 af/ameys 1965 M. s. WOZNIAK 3,201,912

CASE PACKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/GN INVENTOR. M/fchefl 5 Won/0k BY h/s affomeys Aug. 24, 1965 M. s. WOZNIAK CASE PACKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 30, 1960 I I I 5 m VIII/16462711 HVVENTUR.

k m M 5 5 m w Mm Y B United States Patent 3,2tll,912 CASE PACKING MACHINE Mitchell S. Wozniak, Portland, Conn, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Mead Corporation, Dayton, Ghio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 52,973 20 Claims. (Cl. 553-431) This invention relates to a machine for packing cans, packages, jars and other containers into boxes, cases or other receptacles that are commonly used to hold a dozen or more of such articles.

In the following description, reference will be made to cans as typical containers, but it will be understood that the machine and invention are not limited to packing cans, but may also be used to pack rectangular packages, jars and other containers.

One object of the invention is to provide a comparatively small machine capable of packing cans and other articles at higher rates than prior packing machines for similar purposes.

Another object is to provide a machine as aforesaid capable of packing single or double tiers of cans in a case. A related object is to pack the two tiers of cans simultaneously.

Another object is to provide a machine as aforesaid whose construction is adaptable to modification readily for packing cans or jars or rectangular packages or sixcan packs.

. Another object is to provide, in a machine as aforesaid, a single-revolution-per-cycle clutch mechanism which will allow the machine to go through only one cycle for each revolution of the clutch, unless a full complement of cans or articles is ready to be picked up and moved forward for packing and the case is in proper position to receive the load.

Another object is to provide means in combination with the single-revolution clutch which will maintain the clutch engaged and the machine in continuous operation so long as there is a full complement of cans ready to be packed and the case platform is in proper position with a case on it to receive the cans.

Another object is to provide pressure on top of the cans on the conveyor in order to lessen the number of cans needed in the lanes to ensure movement of the cans on the conveyor.

, Another object is to provide means to lower the packed case and to retard the lowering action thereof.

Another object is to provide means to prevent the movement of the tiers of can into the final case-packing position unless there is a case in position to receive the cans. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are diagrammatic side elevation views of a machine embodying the invention and showing, respectively, an upper tier of cans in position, both upper and lower tiers of cans in position, and both upper and lower tiers being inserted in the case while another upper tier is being placed in position.

, FIG. 4 is an isometric view, partly broken away and partly diagrammatic, of the machine of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational section view of the pressure roller and its supporting means which apply pressure on the tops of the cans on the conveyor.

FIG. 6 is a detail view, showing in plan and partly in section, the single revolution clutch mechanism.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are fragmentary perspective views of a portion of the single revolution clutch mechanism taken from different positions.

FIG. 9 is a detail view showing in elevation the slide assembly in connection with the can separating mechan1sm.

FIG. 10 is a detail view, showing in side elevation partly broken away the can separating assembly.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of another form of the invention which is adapted to pack single tiers of cans in an end-opening case.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are fragmentary diagrammatic perspective views of another form of the invention adapted for packing rectangular packages and showing the action of separating a group of packages from the oncoming row of packages.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary elevational view showing in longitudinal section the cam elevation mechanism on the right side of the machine facing the takeoff end of the machine.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary detail view showing in sectional elevation control of the full case lowering mechanism.

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram of the electrical connection to the several switches employed in the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the machine parts are supported between longitudinal frame plates F and P which are supported by four or more legs L, and are suitably spaced apart by transverse connecting members, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Conveying and feeding mechanism The cans are fed along on an endless conveyor belt 15 which may conventionally consist of transverse slats or bars mounted upon chains at opposite sides of the machine driven by sprockets from a main drive motor M in usual fashion through a commercially available reduction gear and safety clutch (not shown) which allows the motor to continue turning in case the machine should jam and stop.

The cans are divided into lanes which, in the illustration shown, are four in number, but the number of lanes may be varied to give the desired number of cans in a pack. The lanes are formed by parallel guide plates A, B, C. D and E positioned over the conveyor belt, but extending beyond the end of the belt into an elevating and removing zone, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

To enable shorter lanes and a shorter conveyor, means are provided to apply pressure on the top of the cans. Since the cans are moved along the lanes by the pressure of succeeding cans against their predecessors and, thus pushing the forward cans, sufiicient friction must be provided between the can bottoms and the conveyor to avoid slippage if a small number of cans is desired and a shorter machine is to be provided. Therefore, pressure roller means is provided extending over the lanes. The pressure roller means is mounted upon a transverse bar or frame member F5 extending beneath the top run of the conveyor belt and supported from the side frame plates F-l, F2.

Mounted upon the transverse bar F-S at opposite sides of the conveyor belt are bracket posts 21 on which are pivotally mounted substantially horizontal arms 23 affixed on opposite ends of a pivot shaft 29 which extends above the lanes of cans. The arms 23 are pivoted at one end and are free to move up and down with the pivot shaft 29.

A small stop plate 27 on the outside surface of each of the post brackets 21 is adjustable on the post bracket by a screw and slot arrangement so as to adjust the height of the arms 23. Supported between and at the opposite ends of the arms 23 is a roller shaft 31 on which are revolvably mounted metal rollers 30', 30 30 30 The rollers 30', 30 30 30 are positioned to lie over each of the four lanes and are power driven.

.long as the motor is on, the conveyorwill In order to ensure the engagement of each roller with the cans in its lane so as to apply certain pressure on the cans in its lane, the rollers are provided with over-. sized bearing apertures and. countersunk tapped radial bores into which are threaded set screws 3 3 so that the rollers are slightly eccentricallym'ounte'd on the shaft 31. Preferably in the example showntwhere there .areifour lanes, the rollers willbe afiixed' progressivelyacross the shaft and angularly 90 apart from one another. Thus; the full weight of the roller assembly may bear on one lane of cans at a time .to ensure pressure and hence detent 47 extends down from each slidable plate 48 in position to be engaged by and to hold a transverse rod 50 from moving in clockwise (forward) direction until all slides have been moved forward by the cans in their :respective lanes. 'In FIG. 9, the slide is shown moved forward relative to rod50. a

Control rod 50 connects the ends of and is supported by lever arms 52 whose other ends are fixedly mounted on and turn with a fixed axis pivot shaft 54 whose ends are pivotally mounted in hearings in the side plates of the frame F and F forward movement of the cans .in all lanes because of I the progressive exertion of pressure on the top of the cans of each lane in .turn'. Thus, irregularity in the height of the cans or of their positioning onthe conveyor belt is taken into account. p 1 V For driving the roller shaftfil, a gear 28 is mounted on one'end, which is adapted to .mesh with another gear 26 turning on the shaft 29together with a' sprocket 24 also. on that shaft; Power is provided for driving the roller shaft 31 by the motor M .which is mounted on the frameof the. machine at the opposite side. This motor also acts as the main driving means for all of the othermoving. parts, as.hereinafter more fully. appear.

Throughreduction gearing, thetmotor M drives a shaft 13 which has a sprocket 10 mounted .thereon.

As thecansleave the, conveyor, they are pushed onto parallel rails 40 which extend along thev guide plates A-E. at their lower. edges on each i'sde of. each plate.

posite sides, leaving an open spaceybetween. This open space, as..will hereinafter appear, is necessaryto pro vide for movement of the lifting and packing mechanism As the cans move along the lanes onto the rails, they The sprocket 10 is constantly turning while the .motor is 7 In order to biasthe pivot shaft 54 so itwill turn when the control rod 50 is released, a radially extending arm 56 is afiixed on the pivot' shaft 54 with. a weight 57- adjustably mounted thereon. Also mounted on the pivot shaft 54 is another radial arm 58. carrying'a mercury switch 59. This mercury switch is in an electric series circuit sothat when it closes and all other conditions are complied with, mechanism (controlled by a single revolution clutch illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, 8). isstartedv -to' move the cansfrom the rails40 andalso to move back' the slide assemblies to their original positions ready to.

act when thenew complement of cans on the. rails is complete.

Separation of r1 group from a row of cans f In order to move the cans off the rails40, the-pre determinednumber, which is to constitute one row in the casewhen packed, must first be separated from the continuous row of cans in the lane on the. rails; The

- starting of the mechanism for doing this is another result of the, closing of the mercury switch 59. p

The separation is accomplished by inserting in thespace between the last canof the selected number which is to comprise the group, and the succeeding can a pair of lugs 60, 66 (see FIGS. 10 and 4). One lug 60 isa stop I These. rails are only wideenough to support the cans at.op-'

lugand is fixedly mounted on a rod 62' extending radially from a mounting bracket 64 on a transverse fixed-axis supporting-shaft 65 Whichis mounted and supported at itsends in the frame plates F', F 1 p Theother lug66-is also mounted on rod 62, but is slidablethereon toward theforward end; and it is biased toward the lug 60"by a coiled-compression spring 67 coiled around therod. 1 a

- The pivotal mounting' of the bracket 64 and its rod 62 on the supporting shaft 65 enables the lugs 60 and 66 to be inserted between the cansnear the guides plates A-E when the rod and bracket are tilted up to substantially abut one another as must be, since each succeeding can pushes its predecessor along. J. The can's must .be separated into groups for packing into a'case. To do that,.me'chanism to stop the forward movement of the row of cans when the lane is full and associated mechanism to divide. andseparate, thedesired number intoia group are provided. i

Movementof therow of cans is stopped by engage-. ment of the leading can. with a. stop or load-detecting.

lug 42 on a slidable load-detecting assembly. supported by and slidable' along one rail 400i each lane. I

As viewed in FIGS. 9 and 4,'the slide assembly; com

prises a-can stop or detecting lug; 42 .extending'vertically' up from one. side of a horizontal slide 44to. which itis. affixed and which slides between one of the fixed can supporting rails-40 and a fixed guide rail 46 parallel to' and beneath it. The lug 42 is nearthe. forward enact.

the slide'44 while the. opposite .end of the slide is affixedi to an upward vertical extension on a tail plate .48 ex-;- tending alongside and ata lower levelthan the rail 40 and extending still further back. I

There is a slide assembly in eachlane.

' Whena'pre? determined number of cansv is pushed on'rails 40, the

horizontal position and also to be withdrawn when the rod is tilted downwardly from horizontal. The tiltingmeans, described below, is controlledin timed relation-to. the operator of the separation of the. group of cans from the row.

I The tilting is controlled by rotation of 'a cam 114' adjustably secured. upon.a sleeve or bushing 1 15 which is loosely mounted on the main shaft 18..

The'sleeve 115 is driven frorn the main shaft 18 by a single revolution clutch mechanism (illustrated best in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8) as hereinafter more fully described.

Cam 114 has a. grooved track in its inside face in which fits a follower pin 114 which extendslaterally from an 7 adjacent face of a triangular cam-actuated member 76.

(FIGS. 4 and 10.) The cam-actuated member 76 pivots about a transverse shaft'79 extending crosswise .of the machine and mounted in bearings and the frame plates In the upper forward corner of the cam-actuated member 76, there is mounted one end of a transversely extendingrod 78 which engages in downwardly facing slots leading can applies pressure on the load-detecting lug 42,.

moving it forward about one-half inch. .When-' all lanes have their slide assemblies moved forward, mechanism in each of the lug-supporting brackets 64 at spaced points along rod .78 corresponding 'to' the can lanes. The opposite end of the rod '78 is mounted on lever 77 aflixed on shaft '79 paralleling the cam-actuated member 76.

Thus, as the cam-actuated member 76.is rocked about 7 the pivot shaft 79,, by follower pin 1-14 and. cam 114, theis started for taking the cansoff the rail; To that end, av rod 78 tilts the lug-supporting bracket 64 up or down about its supporting shaft 65. When it tilts upwardly,

the lugs 6t 66 will enter between the cans which are to be separated. When it tilts downwardly, the lugs will move out of the way and permit the cans in the lane to move forwardly along the rails until the forward can strikes the stop lug 42 as before.

' Provision is made for adjustment of the cam 114 relative to the bushing 115. This adjustment is hereinafter described in detail.

cans to the rear of the lugs, the lug 66 has mounted on its lower end beneath the rod 62 the longer horizontal leg of an L-shaped pusher member 68 while the shorter leg is directed downwardly in position to be engaged by a transverse pusher rod 80 extending across the machine. Pusher rod 89 has its ends mounted in and connecting the upper end of lever arms 82 located on opposite sides of the lanes. The lower ends of the levers 82 are fixedly mounted on a pivot shaft 84 extending transversely across the machine beneath the rails 46 and supported in bearings in the machine frame.

The shaft 84 is oscillated or rocked to cause rocking motion of arms 82 and pusher rod 80. This is done by cam action from a rotating cam 110 (see FIGS. 6, 7, and 8) turning with the sleeve 115 on the main shaft 18, when caused to do so by control means, as will presently be described. The rocking movement forwardly will push the pusher member 68 and the lug 65 carried thereby forward. This separates the predetermined group of cans from the row in the manner previously mentioned.

Cam 116 actuates the pusher rod Si) by the following linkage. See FIGS. 13 and 4. The cam follower 1310f extends laterally from the upper end of an obliquely positioned link 87 which has parallel arms 88 afiixed to its sides at its upper end and extending up along and touching opposite sides of the bushing 115 (see FIG. 8, also) which thus guides the substantially radial movement imparted to the link by the cam follower as the cam 11% rotates. Loosely pivoted to the lower end of link 87 by pivot pin 86 is the lower end of a downwardly extending arm 85 affixed at its upper end to oscillating shaft 84.

As previously stated, this shaft 34 has aifixed thereon the lower ends of the upwardly extending arms 82. Since the transverse push rod 8t extends between and connects the upper ends of these arms, the push rod will move to and fro as the shaft 84 oscillates, such oscillation being responsive to the action of the cam 110. Also, as previously stated, the finger lug 66, by reason of the action of the push rod, separates the group of cans from the row in back of it.

Retractive movement of the slides 44 backward is caused by transverse rod 8t} under control of the cam Ht). Revolving of the cam 110 as the single revolution clutch operates, causes the transverse rod 8% to move first forwardly to operate the separating lugs 66, and then rearwardly. The rearward motion causes retraction of the slide to its original or detecting position by reason of the passage of the rod 8d through a rectangular opening d9 in the tail plate 48 of each slide. Because it is necessary for the detecting slide to be able to move forward when the leading can in the row pushes against the detecting or slide lug 42, the cam 110 has its track cut so that when it stops, the rod 86 will have moved about /2" forward again. This frees the slide for that much movement which is needed for detecting that the lane is full of cans.

Can elevating and take-0J9 mechanism After a group of cans have been separated from the line by the dividing and separating mechanism, it is desired 6 to lift the group off the rails 40 from behind the stop 42 and move them forward over the stop 42 and set them down again on the rails 49 in advance of the stop 42 in position to be pushed off later into waiting cases.

Mechanism to do this comprises a pair of identical chains 13%), 136', on opposite sides of the machine, each trained in rectangular form over four sprockets 131-134 and l31l34'. These sprockets are mounted in bearings supported from inner frame plates f and f parallel to and supported from the main frame plates F, F located as if in the corners of a rectangle. The lower forward sprockets 133, 133 of each set are keyed on coaxial stub shafts 128, 128' mounted in and extending through bearings in the inner frame plates 1, 1 On the outer ends of shafts 128, 128 driving sprockets 126, 126' are keyed, which are driven by chains 125, from sprockets 124, 124 keyed on the ends of a shaft 122 which extends across the machine and rotates in bearings in the machine frame.

inwardly of the sprockets 124 is another smaller sprockets 126 also keyed on shaft 122 and driven by a chain 119 from the one revolution clutch mechanism (hereinafter described), when caused to do so by activation of the clutch upon certain conditions for operation being satisfied.

To lift a group of cans over the stop 42 and set them down on rails iii in advance of stop 42, a cradle (which for convenience will be referred to as a lower-tier cradle) is supported from the chains 13%, 13%). It comprises a transverse supporting beam 14! (see FIG. 4) on which are affixed at spaced positions across the beam, in register with the center line of each lane, parallel longitudinal beams 142 on each of which is mounted a can lifting member 144.

The members 144 are L-shaped metal bars and are supported by two posts 143 from and slightly above the beams 142 with the short arms 144' projecting upwardly at their trailing ends so as to be able to enter in the space made between the row of cans and the group separated therefrom and to prevent rearward slide-off of the cans as the cradle starts moving forwardly. Similar upwardly extending arms 144" are provided on the front ends of members to prevent forward slide-off of the cans as the cradle reaches the end of its forward movement.

As the chains move the cradle upward and then forward, the separated group of cans will be picked up and moved forwardly over the stop 42.

As the chains move the cradle down at the end of their forward movement, the group of cans will be set down on the rail 4th in advance of the stop 42 (see FIG. 2 lower tier).

in order to hold the beam 14%) of the lower-tier cradle horizontal at all times during its run around the four sides of the rectangular path through which the chains carry it, the beam 149 is affixed to the head of a supporting bracket 141 at one end. Extending horizontally and transversely from the head of the bracket 141 is a boss 145 bored to receive a horizontally extending pivot pin extending from a link of the chain 139. Extending radially up and down from the boss 145 are arms 147, $.49 which are held vertically erect at all times in the following way.

Pivotally connected to the ends of the arms 147, 149 are the ends of parallel tie bars or links 16ft, 1&1, respectively, whose opposite ends are likewise pivotally connected to a triangular slide bracket 164 which is afiixed to 'a horizontal slide bar 166. The slide bar 166 is guided 'the tops of the cans below the upper rails.

that end willhave fully entered and-have started to slide tinue its sliding motion between the two parts of the slide;

The support'of the opposite end of the beam 14! from the chain 139" is similar to the support of the end alreadysperms described, but there are no upwardly and downwardly extending arms like 147, 149 on such other end fortwo reasons, I

First, the maintenance of the beam .140 in horizontal condition by the rods 160, 161 is adequate-on one side.

Second, the space is required for movement of rods 26!), 261 like 169, 161 in guiding the flight of a second cradle. I

It is desired for the machine to becapable of loading a case with two layers or tiers of cans, one on top of the other. For this purpose, ,a secondv or upper-tier cradle is provided which is in most respects similar to the lower.-

tier cradle. It comprises a horizontal transverse beam 240 on which are supported a series of parallel spaced j longitudinal beams 242 (one for each'lane) from 'eachof which an L-s-haped can lifting member 244 is supported by long posts 243. Upwardly extending ends 244', 244" prevent rearward and forward slide-off, as before. However, this second or upper-tier loading cradle has its can lifting members 244 spaced'by'the posts 243 much higher above the beam 242 than their equivalents in thelowertier cradle.

To receive the second tier of cans from the second tier cradle, parallel rails 4& comprising narrow bars are af- 7 p 7 r3 7 V be" loaded with both'upperandlower tier' cans simultaneously as shown in FIGURE 3.

, In order? to overcome a tendency of the, leading cans in theupper tier to .tip over as the pushing of thevload into the casestarts -particula'rly when smaller diameter 'cans are being loaded 'a plate 2,481; is afiixed to the front'face of the lower portion of each ofthe pusher arfnsl248. These plates terminate below the ,bottom of the upper-tier cans. Thus, the lower tier is pushed slightly in advance of the'upper and affords support in advance of the runs of theupper-tier cans.

Full'cdse handling and lowering Referring to FIGS. 4 and 16, the platform" 172 ,is

mounted on a supporting arm 173 secured to one end of fixed longitudinally to opposite walls of upper partition plates such as C D E (FIG. 4) aligned with and above the most advanced portions of the partition plates A-E, respectively. The railsdtl are at a level above the lower rails not less than enough to provide free passage of As in the case of rails 40, the rails 46 support cans only adjacent their periphery, this time, however, to allow movement of vertical pusher arms 248 which extend up from the forward end of the longitudinal beams 242. The pusher arms 248 extend to'thetop of 'the cans loaded on the upper-tier rails. a

Similarly, to the beam-guides 168, 168for the slide .166, a gap is provided between aligned guide sections'268,

268 for the slide 266 (which is similar to slide 166) to allow for passage of the support of the beam 2% and chain 131? in their'movement.

The upper and lower-tier cradles are positioned or spaced equidistant around the chain so that one cradle will start its rise when the other is starting its descent.

Under ordinary conditions, as will hereinafter appear,

the machine will stop with a load of'cans, W, on the 7, upper tier and with the machine in the position of FIGQl. With that in mind and from the foregoingdescription,

it will be understood that as the chains 130, 130 move at the starting up of the machine, the lower-tier cradle-will first lift a complement or group of cans, X, from the rails 40 and elevate them and move them forward past stop 42. T henthe lower-tier cradle will start its descent andwill set down the cans upon the rails beneath the uppertier as shownin FIGURE 2. Meantime, the uppertier cradle has started its upward ascent and in due course will lift'up a new group of cans, Y, which meantime will have been separated by the separating mechanism from the row of cans in back of it again as indicated in FIG.- URE 2.. This new group of cans will be lifted and carried forward by the upper-tier cradle preparatory to placing them upon the upper-tier rails 419 engage in each lane, respectively, and will push them forward otf both thebottom rails 40 and the upper rails 40 simultaneously into a waiting case 179 which will thus v g V 7 However, there are cans upon both the upper-tier and lower-tier, which the pusher arms 248 of the upper-tier cradle will.

a leg 174 whose otherend is aifixed to. the midpoint of a shaft 175 from which'the' arm extends perpendicularly. The shaft 175 extends across the, machine and is pivotally "supported at' its ends in-the'machine frame.

To holdthe shaft 175 in positions spaced 90 apart with the platform horizontal (FIGS. 2 and'3) or vertical (FIGS. land 4), a discj176 is fixedly mounted perpendicular to, and near one end of, the shaft. Into the periphery of the disc,,tw0 notches 176a and 17611 are out about 90 apart'to receive a spring-pressed lock pin 177 urged contantly inva radial direction toward the periphery of'the disc (see FIG.'16.) i V v The pin 177 may be withdrawn from whichever notch it is in by. an electromagnetic solenoid'178 whose armature 178a is pivotally. connectedto a link 179 which, in turn, is pivotally connected to the pin.

When, the platform is horizontal (FIG. 3), after the case is full, withdrawal of the locking pin 177 from notch 176h will allow the platform to, pivot downwardly about shaft 175 until it reaches" the position of FIGS. 4 and 16. When down, the case- 17s is supported by an arm 180 extending horizontally perpendicular to the platform away from the machine; This arm may be arranged, with reference to a conventional conveyorfor takingthe case away from the'machine, so that the case will be laid on the conveyor asthe arm 180 reaches its lowest point.

In order to'retard or slow down the lowering'motion of the case, and also, to bias the shaft 175 and platform -172 into the horizontal position of the platform, a con- .ventional' hydraulic dashpot'is connected to the shaft 175 'by'a flexible connection in the form ofa chain 182.

As the case and platform move down, the chain winds I Part way around the shaft-and pulls piston rod 184 and -through arestricted orifice in usual fashion in such devices which are availableonthe market. When the platform; is released by removal of the case and withdrawal 'of'theipin from the. notch 176d, a spring 185 in the cylin'der pulls back the piston and 'pistonrod 184 and chain -and'rever'sely turns the shaft whichraises the platform .to a horizontal position again. It is locked there by the .pinfsnapping' into the notch 17612;

The letting-down of the full 'caseisautomatically controlled from the upper-tier cradle mechanism. For this -purp.ose,'.a' conventional limit switch 203 isafhxed to the machine frame-in positionfor its downwardly extending actuating arm 203a to be engaged by the upwardly extending arm 247 of-the-upper-tier cradle. The switch arm is pivoted by the cradle arm 247 as it passes by, causing momentary engagement of switch contacts within the switch housing. This energizes the" solenoid 178 and top flaps of the case.

9 which is in series circuit with the solenoid, across power lines L L (FIG. 17). The solenoid withdraws locking pin 177 allowing the case and platform to drop pivotally downward. The switch arm 203a returns to original position and the contacts open under the urge of the usual biasingspring within the switch.

Restoration of the platform 172 to horizontal position is controlled by a momentary contact push button switch 2% conveniently located on the switch frame in position for the machine operator to actuate it after the full case is removed from the platform and replaced by an empty case. Switch 2% is in series with the pin-releasing solenoid 178 and in parallel with the upper-tier operated switch 2% so that when the switch 204 is operated, pin 177 is withdrawn releasing the platform for return to horizontal position from FIG. 16 position.

When the case-receiving platform 172 has been restored to horizontal position, a flat side 1769 on the disc 176 comes under a pivoted actuating arm 1% of a conventional limit switch 192 which is mounted upon the machine frame at the side adjacent the disc 176. This closes the limit switch 192 and allows recycling, i.e. operation of the machine, but only if a case is in position to receive a new load of cans and the lanes are full. v In order to prevent operation of the machine until a case is in position on the platform, a case-presence or sensing switch 194 is mounted on a beam extending over the upper tier of cans. A spring-biased switch-contact actuating arm 195 which is pivotally mounted extends down in position to be engaged and moved by the flap of a casewhcn the case is in can-receiving position on the platform.

Movement of this switch arm 195 closes switch contacts within the housing of the switch 194. When the case is let down or if it is removed or not in place, the switch arm 195 is urged outwardly by its biasing spring and the switch contacts within the switch 194 open. This prevents operation of the machine, as will more fully appear in connection with the description of the wiring diagram.

It is necessary to properly locate the opened case 170 with relation to the load to be pushed off the upper and lower tier rails and to guide the cans into the case.

'ance of the cans, upper and lower vertically-disposed spring guide plates 1'98, 199 are affixed to the two outside partition plates E and E (cg. see 13 and 193 in FIG. 4). Similar spring-guide plates are affixed similarly at the other side of the machine.

The ends of the fingers 197 and vertical edges of plates iii-S, 1% extend just into the case as it sits on platform 172 when the latter is horizontal. The fingers and plates are bent toward the cans to press against them and guide them into the case. The fingers and plates 197, 198, 199 constitute a funnel on which an empty case can be manually placed, opening and holding open the side The bottom flaps are caused to bend down by tapering the ends of the rails ill under which that flap slides as the platform carries the empty case up to horizontal position.

Main drive and operation single revolution clutch mechanism From the foregoing, the movement of the cans along the lanes and their removal will be generally understood.

The mechanism for transmitting power to the can ele- Vating and take-off mechanism and for shutting off power to stop operation of the can-elevating and take-off mecha nism in timed relation to the accumulation of a full coin- Before this mechanism is caused to operate, certain conditions in the sequence of machine operations must be met. These conditions are:

(1) There must be enough cans in the lanes to push the row of cans along the rails 44 into position for one full tier or group to be lifted.

(2) The leading cans in all lanes must have pressed against and moved forward the stop lug 42 and slides 44 in all lanes.

(3) The platform must be horizontal and in readiness to receive the cans as they are pushed off the rails of the lanes.

(4) A case must be on the platform 172 to receive the cans.

If any one of these four conditions is not satisfied, the clutch mechanism will not be actuated and cans will not move past the stop lugs 42 on slide 44.

(5) Alternative to conditions 3 and 4; when the lanes are full and there are no cans on the lower tier (but there may be cans on the upper tier) operation of the single revolution clutch may take place for one revolution without conditions 3 and 4 being fulfilled. This provides for automatic starting but limits running to one revolution of the clutch and stops operation before the load is pushed off the upper and lower tier rails, unless conditions 3 and 4 are fulfilled.

he first conditions to be satisfied are the filling of the lanes and the movement of the cans forward on the rails 4d to push all slides 44 forward. When the last slide is pushed forward the transverse rod 50 (on the lever arms 52, hereinabove described, see FIGS. 4 and 9) is freed to pivot together with its mounting shaft 54 about the axis of that shaft. This tilts the mercury switch 59 downwardly and closes the mercury switch, since it is also mounted on the shaft 54.

Now as the platform 172 is swung up to horizontal, the shaft and cam disc 176 will rotate so that the fiat 176] will be under the arm 1% of the switch 192, closing that switch. A case (which will have been manually placed and held on the funnel 197, 193, 199 while the platform was down) will be supported by the plat form when it moves into horizontal position. In that position, the top flap of the case will hold the arm of the case-sensing switch 194 in switch-closed position. Closing of the last switch, whether it be the platform switch 192 or mercury switch 59, will energize a clutchcontrolling electromagnetic solenoid 15% mounted on the machine frame plate F. The armature of the solenoid is connected to a plunger 151, see FIGURES 6 to 8, inclusive that is non-rotatable about its axis but is pressed inwardly of the machine (outwardly of the solenoid) by a spring 152 and has a latch arm 153 radially extending therefrom substantially horizontally. The arm 153 has a notch 15311 in its lower edge to receive a pin 154 laterally extending from a pawl 155 in position to be caught and held by the latch arm at a certain time as will presently appear.

The pawl 155 is pivotally mounted on the cam 110 on the opposite radial face from the cam tract. The pawl is biased toward the'main shaft by a coiled tension spring 156 whose ends are coiled around anchor pins extending in opposite directions toward each other from adjacent faces of the pawl and cam, respectively. The pawl is spaced from the surface of the cam by enlarging the diameter of its pivot pin H39 between the surface of the cam and the adjacent surface of the pawl, as shown at 10911. This space provides room for the spring 156. The nose or tooth of the pawl is biased toward engagement with the teeth of a ratchet 106. The pawl lies in the same plane as the ratchet which is fixedly mounted on a reduced portion 194" of a hub 104 loosely mounted on the end of the main drive shaft 18. The hub 194 also has fixedly mounted on another reduced portion 1M (FIG. 7) a sprocket Tilt) which is continuously driven by a chain ltlZ from the sprocket 15 on the outward "i 1- e shaft 13 of the gear reduction. Thus; wheneverthe pawl and ratchet are. in engagement, cam 1119, cam 114 and sprocket 112 will be driven as a unit by the pawl and I 3,201,91fi

'- bnerevolutionclutch to place a lower-tier of cans in place can take place. Thereafter, the machine-will stop 1 unless both the case-sensing switch andthe platform ratchet frorn'rmotorM via'the gear reduction and chain of connections just described.

When the cam, pawl, ratchet and hub are permittedto rotate as a unit, by' energization of the clutch-com trolling solenoid 150 pulling away or disengaging the latch arm 153 from the laterally extending pin 154 on the pawl, the rotation can continue only so" long as the solenoid is energized. Upon deenergization of theclutch solenoid 150, the spring 152 will move the armature and latch arm back into the plane in which the pawl pin 154 is rotating. When the pawl pin reaches the latch arm 155,the pin 154 will engage an inclined surface 'in the notch 15311 and will be lifted from its engagement with the teeth of the ratchet. For this purpose, the surface of the notch 153m is tangential with'reference to the orbit of pawl pin 154 and 'in position to be engaged byth at pin. The notch 15321 is undercut from the inclined surface so that as the pin rides along the inclined surface, the pin will eventually fall into the undercut and be held switch are closed. I e v "Adjziszmen'tbfthe comsllo'tmd 114 v p o It is necessary for the action of the insertion and retraction of-the separating fingers 60 and 66 by the cam 114 and the separating movement of the finger 66 by the earn 114 to be coordinatedand for'both to be accurately timed relative tothe whole cycle of operations of thernachine. T0 providefor adjustment of the camswith relation to the sprocket 112 in its drive of the takethere with pawl disengaged from the ratchet 1%.; This stops rotation of the cam 11%, .cam 1 14 and sprocket 112, but the ratchet, hub and sprocket 106) will continue to rotate so that as soon as the clutch solenoid is again energized the pawl will be freed for reengagement with the ratchet and the rotation of the cam 110 will'resume;

Thesolenoid will-remain energized as long asall four of the conditions, or thefirst, second and fifth conditions, for machine operation as above itemized are fulfilled. Thus, if the solenoid be only mementarily energized to release the pawl pin 15 onlyonerevolutioncan take place before a pawl pin 154 is again caught within the notch 153a and lifted away from the ratchet'106.

The machine will always. stop in the same position off mechanism (hereinbefore described) the cams are mounted on the bushing or sleeve 115 on the main shaft 1? so that the earn 114 can be adjusted relative thereto individually and the sprocket 112 can be adjusted relative thereto also individually. 1

Referring toFIGS. 6, 7 and 8 particularly, the separating-cam 110 is bolted'against the end'or is otherwise fixedly secured to the-- sleeve 115 which, as previously indicatedgis rotatively mounted on: main drive shaft 18. On the other end ofsleeve 115, the cam 114 is ad- 1 justably mounted. Between earn 114 and cam 110 the sprocket 112 is adjustablymounted on the sleeve 115.

This sprocketjdrives the chain 119 which, it will be recalled, drives the can-elevating and take-off mechanism.

For securing the adjustment of the sprocket 112 rela- V tive tothe, sleeve 115,, a diametrically split clamping except under emergency conditions such as by slipping or temporary manual disengagement of 'the overload clutch (not shown) between the reduction gearing and the drive sprockets; or interruption of electric power to the motor by (a) opening the main switch, or (b) tripping of conventional current-overload devices. But'such' emergency stops will not upset the timing of the ma chine-operations. V

Stopping in the same position is ensured by theone revolution clutch always cutting-out at the same place and by coordinating the can-elevating 'rnechanism (chains 13%, 130', etc.) with the clutch so that the clutch revolves once as each tier of cans is put in place. In other words, a full trip of the chain around its path will involve two revolutions of the single-revolution clutch. This is necessary because two groups of cans must be separated from each rowone for the lower and one for the upper tier-to fill each double tier case.

In order that the machine may start cycling auto:

maticaliy'when the main switch is closed and there are enough cans on the conveyor to feed continuously into the lanes, there is aconventional limit switch 262 attached to the machine frame with an actuating arm ZlZZ-z'z extending down in position to be engaged by the upper corner of the triangular member 164 attached to the slide of the lower-tier cradle operating mechanism; The engagement will take place and will close the contacts of the switch as that member 164 reaches the end of its travel rcarwardly, i.e. just asthe lower-tier cradle'beam 144 is to start up. The engagement will continue during tie upward travel of the cradle, but will terminate thereafter with the result that'the :contacts of switch 202' will open and remainso during the remainder ofthe travel of the cradles with the chain. The upper-tier slide will not affect this switch 202 because the lower-tier slide is on the opposite side of the machine. As is shown in the wiring diagram of FIG. 17, switch 202 bridges the case-sensing switch'lh l and platform switch'192 so thatwith both thesev switches open, one cycling of the ring 117 is mounted on the sleeve on one side of the sprocket. 'On the other side of the sprocket there is a circumferential or annular enlargement 115a on the sleeve; ,Both the clamping ring and the enlargement have their adjacent edges cut in toward the main shaft thusproviding annular recesses and shoulder facing one another and facing the sprocket. The periphery of the open center of the sprocket is received in these recesses which thus locatethe sprocket relative to the axis of the main shaft. I

To clamp the sprocket between the enlargement 115a and the clamping ring 1 17, a bolt 116 parallel to the main shaft'has its end threaded into the clamping ring and tits shank passing through the sleeve enlargement 115a.

The bolt 116 also passes through a stop-ring 111 against the outersurface of which the underside of the bolt head presses. The ring 111 abuts the end of the sleeve 115 so that as the bolt is tightened the clamping ring 117 tion independently of any other part or the sleeve.

Adjustment of the cam 114 on the sleeve may be made independently of the sprocket112 and while the sprocket is secured. For that purpose the periphery of the open center f the cam 114 is cut at both edgeszto'provide similar oppositely facing annular shoulders and'recesses. In one recess the cam-clamping ring 118 seats. Into the other recess the'edge of the enlargement 115a on the sleeve is extended. 7

To clamp the cam 114 between the, ring 118 and the sleeve enlargement 115a a bolt 113 parallel to the axis of the main shaft 18 passes throughthe ring 118 and threads into'a bore in the sleeve enlargement 115a. The

head of the bolt 113 is. countersunk into the clamping ring 118 so that as the'bolt 113; is tightened it is drawn into the sleeve and itshead presses the ring 118 against ithe annular radial shoulder of the cam thus clamping .the cam114, ring 113 and sleeve 115 together. Loosening of the bolt 113will allow the. cam. 114 to be rotated will occur to those skilled in the art. *vention is not limited to the specific embodiments described.

FIG. 11 illustrates the single tier form. The cradles are both similar to the lower tier loading cradle of the previously described form having longitudinal beams 342 on transverse beams 340 and L-shaped lifting members 344. But the vertical pusher arms 348 on the forward end of the longitudinal beams 342 need only be high enough to push the lower tier into a single tier case. I The first cradle to rise will take the group of cans X'- from behind the detecting lugs (not shown in FIG. 11), lift the group over and deposit it in advance thereof. Then the second cradle will do the same with the next group Y',,but in moving forward will push group X into case 370. The lower tier switch 202 will be disconnected in this use and a lug will be attached to the transverse beam 140 at the end nearest to the chain 136) in position to engage arm 2M of the case-platform dropping switch 203 so that the platform and filled case will drop automatically on each passage of a cradle, i.e. each filling of a case.

" Packing rectangular packages A diagrammatic illustration of a modification to pack rectangular boxes is shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14. The separating mechanism is substantially as in can packing, but due to the absence of space for the lugs 6t and 66 to enter at the sides of the lanes between the peripheries of adjacent cans, the lugs 60 and 66 in this instance lift one box slightly before causing the group to be separated from it and the remaining boxes in the row.

In each lane, an inverted U-shaped bracket, designated by numeral 400, wider than the box is affixed to the machine frame just over the tops of the box. The forward leg 4%2 of the bracket becomes engaged by the forward top edge of the box and holds the box from further ad- Vance. The lug 66 pushes the group in advance of it to separate the group from the boxes behind in the row.

To keep the box that is next in the row to the elevated box from also being elevated during the upward movement of the former, due to friction between the abutting sides of those two boxes, a horizontal foot 4% extends from the end of the bracket lug 404 and lies over the top of said next box.

When the support of the lugs 60 and 6-5 tilts down, in following the sequence of machine operations as in can packing, the elevated box drops down also, and the row can move forward again.

To assist and ensure the dropping, an elevated T-shaped presser member 412 is mounted in the transverse portion of the U-par-t of bracket 400, and is pressed down on the box top by a spring 410 coiled about the leg 408 of the presser.

The invention as described in the foregoing embodiments is applied to a machine to pack single and doubletier can or package loads into end-opening cases. With only a slight modification, the machine can be adapted to pack either six-can packs in a single tier or in a double tier or rectangular containers in single or double tiers. It can also be adapted with slight modification to pack six-can packs in either single or double tiers in top-opening cases and end-opening cases and to pack rectangular packages in single or double tier in top-opening cases. Likewise, with slight modification, it can pack single or double tier cans or six-can packs in side-opening cases. Many modifications within the scope of the invention Therefore, the in- Iclaim:

1. In a case-loading machine, a conveyor supporting articles to be loaded, means to maintain the articles in parallel rows during conveyance, supporting means onto which said articles are moved by said conveyor, means to separate from each row of articles on said supporting means a group to be loaded in a case, loading means including endless conveying means to transport said group into a case-loading position, while inserting a preceding group from said position into a case.

2. In a case-loading machine, a conveyor supporting articles to be loaded, means to maintain the articles in parallel rows during conveyance, supporting means onto which said articles are moved by said conveyor, means to detect the presence of a full row of articles on said supporting means, means to separate from each row of articles on said Supporting means a group to be loaded into a case, said separating means being activated by said detecting means, loading means including endless conveying means to transport said group into a case-loading position while inserting a preceding group from said position into a case.

3. A case-loading machine as claimed in claim 2 in which the separating means comprises separable members, means to move said members into the path and to withdraw them from the path of said articles, and means to move said separable members relative to each other to separate a group from its row.

4. A case-loading machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the separable members are mounted on tiltable support, and wherein the means to move said separable members into and from the article path includes a cam which is revolvable once to separate a group from its row.

5. A case-loading machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the means activated by the detecting means includes a normally disengaged rotary clutch which when engaged remains operable for one full revolution during which only one group is transported to case-loading position; wherein there is provided means biased to disengage said clutch and to maintain it disengaged after said one revolution; and wherein there is provided means activated by the detecting means to deactivate said disengaging means.

6. In a case-loading machine, means supporting a plurality of parallel rows of articles to be loaded, means to pick up from said supporting means a complement of articles from each row to form a group and to trans port the group into a case-loading position, and means to remove the group from case-loading position and to insert the same into a case while placing a succeeding similar group in case-loading position, wherein the transporting means comprises endless conveying means, cradle means carried by said conveying means for lifting up a group and moving it longitudinally of the machine and then lowering it into case-loading position, said cradle means having an article-bearing portion, and means maintaining the article-bearing portion of said cradle means substantially horizontal at all times during its travel.

7. A case-loading machine as claimed in claim 6 having a pivotally-rnounted case support, means to latch said support in position to receive the articles from said case-loading position and means to automatically unlatch said case support on completion of loading to allow the loaded case and support to pivot downwardly.

8. A case-loading machine as defined in claim 7 having means to retard and cushion the downward movement of said support and case, means for latching said case support in down position, and means preventing operation of said removing means when said support is not in loading position With a case thereon, said transporting means including means for operating said automatic unlatching means.

9. In a case-loading machine wherein rows of articles to be loaded are supported in parallel rows, means to pick up from each row a complement of articles to form a group and to transport the group into another position comprising endless conveying means, cradle means carried by said conveying means for lifting up a group and moving it longitudinally of the machine and then lowering it into said other position, said cradle means having I giz ed and the machine can cycle once'to place a lower itself. Thus, the relative positions of the. cams. 110, 114 V and the sprocket 112 can be varied, independent adjustment of the sprocket 112 beingby loosening of the b'olt- 116 andindependent adjustment of the cam lli being'by loosening the bolt 113. p

' Operation 7 The operation of the machine will be described in connection with the wiring diagram of FIG. 17. i

For normal manual control of" the circuit where its opening or closing will interrupt or allow cycling. Various conditions may have brought about stopping of the cycling of the machine after previous operation. a f 1. There may have been insufl'icient cans in the lanes to detect a'load. I a

2. The platform may be down 3. Theremay'be no case to be filled on the platform. '4. The main switch may have been opened with the lanes full. a a a 5. An auxiliary or selector switch may have been manu ally opened.

tier load in positionafor loading into. a case.

' ,If the machine has stopped after loading case when the supply of cansrisi'adeguate, a group of cans, W, will have been .left .on the upper-tierjrails (see FIG. 1) and i the lower-tier cradle will have picked up and moved into loading position a group of cans X for the lower tier.

This:will allow the conveyorto move cans Y and Z forwar'd in'the lanes and for a new loadY to be detected cycling without stopping the main motor and conveyor 15, an auxiliary or, selector switch 201 is placedin series in'the cyclic control 6. An overload, mechanical or electrical, may have,

opened manually. v

The machine is started by closing a conventionalmain by the actionof-the leading can pushing the detector lug 42 and slide 44forward again. The machine will stop, however, with cansjon both upper and lower tiers because both the case-sensing'switch194 and the normallyopen lower-tier switch 202 are open, the lower-tier cradle being fforward and not touching switch 202.

To get .theload consistingjof upper tier W'and lower tier X intothe caseby starting the cycling, the previously loaded case is removed manually (or by conveying means and held on the funnel197, 198,199. Then the, momen- 7 theiload -W,'X; the-platform-switch 192 isclosed and line switch (not shown) whichstarts the motor M. This immediatelyistarts driving the mainshaft 18 and, hence,

gaged the stop or detecting lug 42 pushing the slide 44. forward with its detent 7. .When all have been pushed forward, the detents 7 will have released theshaft 50" whichthereupon tilts, causing closing of the mercury switch 59.

Assuming the auxiliary switch 2011t be closed, the closing of the mercury. switch 59 will energizexthe .sin'gle case-sensing switch 194 has been closed. Closing switches 192'and 194energizes the clutch solenoid 150 and the machine starts cycling, with the uppertier cradle-being the first inthis' instance to pick up a new group or load-Y. On picking up group Y, the upper-tier cradlewill move that groupv onto the upper-tier rails while pusher 2,48 pushes the lowerfltier and the .upper tierW of 'the oil c'ylinder 186.

revolution clutch-control solenoid 150 ;-fprovided the case-platform switch 192'is closed (the platform 172'isu horizontal) and the case-sensing-switch 194 also is' closed" (a casein place on'the platfo'rm172), all of these switches (b) Separating-cam '110jwill cause the transverse push rod to move lug 66 forward of lug 60, thus separating a group of cans from the row. V e

(c) Camwill return the slides 44 to their original positions in readinessto detect the neirt group of cans. ((1) Also, while the clutch is revolving, the chains and 130 of the can elevating mechanism will'be, driven to transport the/ cans to case-loading position (FIGS. 1 and2).

Alternatively to the foregoing,jif the platform 192 or case-sensing switch 194, or both, are open as they will be after loading a case, the lower-tier-operated switch 202rnay possibly be in closed position due to failure ;,of can supply to the detecting means,i.e. movement of slides 44 by cans abutting stop lugs 42. 'When'the supply is resumed and the detector is activated, mercury-switch59 a will close while the switches 194, 192 areby-passed by switch 202. Hence, the clutch solenoid will be en'eri so being in series with the clutch solenoid across lines L1, L2.

intothe waiting case... e

Asfthe' pusher, 248 completes loading ofthe case, the

upper-tier cradle m'omentarily actuates the switch 203 closing it as the upper-tier' cradle passes by. This energizes the case-drop solenoid'178 (FIG. 16) withdrawing pin 177 from the notch 176k allowing the case platform and case to be let down slowly under the retardation efiect Recycling will 'eon'tinue. as long, as the operator continues to replace the vfull casewith an empty one and to push the manual momentary push button switch 204, andxs'o long as there..isasupplyof'cans fed by the conveyor along the ,rails' adequate to activate the detecting lugs 42 and .slides 44f j I a If the mainline switch is opened at any time (con-dition'4 above) or if an overload'has caused stoppage (condition 5 everything will stop at once, immediately. Reclosing of the main switch or removal of the overload will result in starting the machine atithe precise place in the cycle where it stopped. e i

If stoppage occurs for lack of cans'to detect a load f(conditionfl) orubecause the platform was notup or by absence'of a casein position to be filled(conditions 2 and 3), the satisfying of those conditions will automatically start the machine cycling again.

If'the auxiliary oi selector switch 201 is'opened' to stop the cycling, canetran'sporting movement of the endless chain conveyor and cradles, will continue, but only until thefsingle revolution clutch completes the revolution it ha'd startedfi Reclosingswitch 201 restarts the.cycling beginning with transportingto', eitherqthequpper tier or lower tier depending on which tier wasnot served last.

I I 'Singletier packing i The embodimentf just described packs double tier can loads into end-opening 'cases. By making both cradles alike and of height to' only insert "cans into' the lower ,-tier, the machine will load single tier case's.

an article-bearing portion and means maintaining the article of said cradle means substantially horizontal at all times during its travel.

10, The pick up and transporting means as claimed in claim 9 wherein the endless conveying means comprises parallel chains, a plurality of sprockets driving the chains in synchronism, a transverse beam pivotally supported from'said chains, and wherein the means to maintain the article bearing portion horizontal includes slidable means, parallel linkage means pivotally connected to said slidable means and to said chains, there being two cradle means equally spaced along said chain, the parallel linkage and slidable means for one cradle means being on one side of the machine while the slidable means and linkage for the other cradle means is on the other side of the machine.

11. The pick up and transporting means as claimed in claim 9 wherein the endless conveying means comprises parallel chains, a plurality of sprockets driving the chains in synchronism, and a transverse beam pivotally supported from said chains; wherein the article-bearing portion is carried by the transverse beam; wherein the means to maintain the article-bearing portion horizontal includes slidable means, parallel linkage means pivotally connected to said slidable means and at least one chain; and wherein the linkage means comprises parallel links of equal length, each pivotally connected at one end to said slidable means at vertically spaced pivot points, the opposite ends of said links being pivotally connected to said cradle means at pivot points which are spaced at a distance equal to the spacing of the pivot points at said one end.

12. In a case-loadingmachine wherein rows of articles to be loaded are supported in parallel rows in upright position, means to pick up from each row a complement of articles to form a group and to transport the group to another position comprising endless conveying means, cradle means carried by said conveying means and having an article bearing portion, means to maintain said article-bearing portion substantially horizontal while picking up and transporting said group, said conveying means being constructed and arranged to move said cradle means substantially vertically to pick up said group and substantially horizontally toward said other position and substantially vertically to deposit the group in said other position.

13. In a case-loading machine, means supporting a plurality of parallel rows of articles to be loaded, means to pick up from said supporting means a complement of articles from each row to form a group and to transport the group into case-loading position at one level, means to pick up from said supporting means a complement of articles from each row to form a second group and to transport said second group into case-loading position on another level, means to remove both groups from their positions and to insert them into a case while placing a succeeding group into the case-loading position of said first group.

14. A case-loading machine as claimed in claim 13 wherein the transporting means includes endless conveying means, cradle means supported on and moved by said conveying means, and means to maintain said cradle means with said articles in upright position during pickup and transporting into loading position; said machine having fixed rail means thereon at said different levels on which said articles are placed; said means for picking up and transporting one of said groups including means to slide both groups along said rails into an open case; means to cause the articles on the lower level to enter the case slightly in advance of the articles of the upper level.

15. In a case-loading machine, a conveyor supporting articles to be loaded, means to maintain the articles in p M 18 v I i parallel rows, supporting means onto which said articles are moved by said conveyor, means to transport from said supporting/means a complement of articles from each row asa group into case-loading position at one level, means to transport from said supporting means a complement of articles from each row as a group into case-loading position at another level, means to detect the presence of said complements on said supporting means, means activated by said detecting means to cause operation of said transporting means, means to limit the operation of said transporting means to transport only one group into case-loading position for each said activation by the detecting means.

16. In a case-loading machine as claimed in claim 15 wherein the limiting means and the means activated by the detecting means includes a normally disengaged rotary clutch which when engaged remains operable for one full revolution, and means biased to disengage said clutch and to maintain it disengaged after one revolution, and means activated by the detecting means to deactivate said disengaging means.

17. In a case-loading machine, a conveyor supporting articles to be loaded, means to maintain the articles in parallel rows, supporting means onto which said articles are moved by said conveyor, means to transport from said supporting means a complement of articles from each row as a group into case-loading position at one level, means to transport from said supporting means a complement of articles from each row as a group into case-loading position at another level, means to detect the presence of said complements on said supporting means, rotary means activated by said detecting means to cause operation of said transporting means for transporting only one group to said case-loading position each time said detecting means operates.

18. In a case-loading machine, a conveyor supporting articles to be loaded, means to maintain the articles in parallel rows, supporting means onto which said articles are moved by said conveyor, means to transport from said supporting means a complement of articles from each row as a group into case-loading position at one level, means to transport from said supporting means a complement of articles from each row as a group into case-loading position at another level, means to detect the presence of said complements on said supporting means, means activated by said detecting means to cause operation of said transporting means including a normally disengaged rotary clutch which when engaged remains operable for one full revolution, and means biased to disengage said clutch and to maintain it disengaged after one revolution, and means activated by the detecting means to deactivate said disengaging means.

19. In a case-loading machine, means supporting a plurality of parallel rows of articles to be loaded, means to pick up from said supporting means a complement of articles from each row to form a group and to transport the group into case-loading position at one level, means to pick up from said supporting means a complement of articles from each row to form a second group and to transport said second group into case-loading position on another level, means to remove both groups from their positions and to insert them into a case, and means causing the articles on the lower level to enter the case slightly in advance of the articles on the upper level.

20. In a case-loading machine wherein rows of articles to be loaded are supported in parallel rows, the mechanism to pick up from each row a complement of articles to form a group and to transport the group into another position comprising endless conveying means, cradle means carried by said conveying means for picking up a group and moving it into said other position, said cradle means having an article-bearing portion and means 

2. IN A CASE-LOADING MACHINE, A CONVEYOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES TO BE LOADED, MEANS TO MAINTAIN THE ARTICLES IN PARALLEL ROWS DURING CONVEYANCE, SUPPORTING MEANS ONTO WHICH SAID ARTICLES ARE MOVED BY SAID CONVEYOR, MEANS TO DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A FULL ROW OF ARTICLES ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, MEANS TO SEPARATE FROM EACH ROW OF ARTICLES ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS A GROUP TO BE LOADED 